Ghana’s Railway Workers Union Suspends Planned Strike, Awaits Negotiation Outcome

The Railway Workers Union of Ghana (RWU) has officially called off its planned industrial action scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, following a directive from the National Labour Commission (NLC). Instead of picketing, the union will attend a negotiation meeting with the Commission on the same date.

In a letter dated September 24, RWU General Secretary Benjamin Essuman stated, “The Commission has directed that we stay our intended action and appear for negotiations on September 30, 2025. We remain committed to this process and will honour the Commission’s directive in good faith”.

The strike was originally announced on September 15 in response to 12 months of unpaid salaries owed to workers by the Ghana Railway Company Limited, with arrears dating back to October 2024. The union cited severe hardship among its members, including financial distress, broken homes, health complications, and disruption of children’s education.

Despite multiple appeals, the union accused authorities of failing to initiate lawful negotiation or mediation processes.

While the union has called off the immediate action, it warned that failure to resolve its concerns during negotiations could trigger a future strike. “Should our demands remain unresolved after the scheduled negotiations, we shall proceed with our intended action on a new date,” the union stated.

This is the latest chapter in a prolonged standoff. In May 2025, railway workers staged an indefinite strike over seven months of salary arrears, which paralyzed passenger services nationwide. That action was suspended after government assurances, but the union claims the core financial issues remain unresolved.

The RWU emphasized that any future industrial action will be conducted peacefully and in full compliance with public order regulations, with police assistance requested for security during planned picketing.